Reverend Earl Philmer Zimmerman
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Birth: July 20, 1930
Dearborn County
Indiana, USA
Death: Jan. 14, 2013
Wausau
Marathon County
Wisconsin, USA
Earl Philmer Zimmerman peacefully departed this life and joined his Lord Jesus on Monday January 14, 2013 at 82 years of age at the Aspirus Hospice House in Wausau.
Son of Edward and Emma (Heuer) Zimmerman, Earl was born July 20, 1930 in Dearborn County, Indiana. He was baptized into the Christian faith as an infant on August 24, 1930 at St. John's Lutheran Church(Hubbells Corner) in Sunman, Indiana and thus reborn into God's kingdom of grace as God's own dear child. He affirmed his baptism as a youth on January 16, 1944, at St. John's. He married Dolores L. Plotz on June 15, 1957 at Peace Lutheran Church Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Earl attended Van Wedding Elementary (one room) School and Sunman Elementary School. He graduated from Sunman High School May 7, 1948. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree on June 1, 1953 from Capital University, Columbus, Ohio and from the Evangelical Lutheran Theological Seminary, Columbus, Ohio on June 2, 1957 with a Bachelor of Divinity degree. He did an internship at Peace Lutheran Church, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where he met his wife Dolores. His first parish was Faith Lutheran Church (Cuba City, Wisconsin) from 1957-1959. He was installed at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Rothschild, Wisconsin October 25, 1959.
During Earl's pastorate at Mount Calvary, the congregation grew from approximately 100 baptized members to more than 1500. In his 35 years of ministry he officiated at 893 baptisms, 1191 confirmations, 409 marriages, and 190 funerals. Earl served in many area, regional and synod capacities: an officer for both the Wausau Lutheran Clergy Association and the Wausau Conference and Clergy; Bible Camp Director; Synod Youth Committee chairman and other Synod committees; Carthage College Board of Trustees, Kenosha; Homme Home for Aging Board, Wittenberg; Regional Lutheran World Relief coordinator; Conference Lutheran Social Services Representative; active clergy volunteer in the Greater Wausau Christian Services program to nursing homes and jail; Conference Clergy delegate to four National Church Conventions; and other community organizations. After retirement he served as "on call" part time Chaplain at the Wausau Hospital for a number of years. He and his wife were also foster parents for three infants.
Earl is lovingly survived by his wife, Dolores; five children: Deborah (Peter) Shuda, Stevens Point; David (Sue) Zimmerman, Woodbury, Minnesota; Sheila Smoke, Black River Falls; Pastor Daniel (Peggy) Zimmerman, Loyal; and Dean (Susie) Zimmerman, De Pere; foster sons: Lee (Jacci) Reeds, Wausau; and Dell (Sarah) Reeds, Rockford, Illinois; 13 grandchildren: Beth, Andy, Ruth (Bariki) M'hanga, Sam, Sheena, Whitney, Jon, Paul, Luke, Ben, Tom, Zach, and Elle; sister, Evelyn Beneker, Brookville, Indiana; two sisters in law: Vera (Edward) Zimmerman, Cincinnati, Ohio; and Beverly (Gerald) Calder, Oshkosh; and a number of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
Preceding him in death were his parents; four sisters: Laura (Elmer) Mang, Anne (Robert) Sweeney, Mable (Martin) Beneker, Eileen Zimmerman; and three brothers: Carl (Jane), Ralph (Doris), and Edward Zimmerman.
May Earl rest in peace and may we all take our comfort in the peace and joy of our Lord's resurrection.
Funeral service will be held at 12:00 noon on Saturday, January 19, 2013 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 930 Edgewood Road, Wausau, Wisconsin. Visitation will be from 9:00 am until the time of the service at the church. Rev. Nancy Russell and Rev. John Meachen will officiate. Burial will be at Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Wausau, Wisconsin.
Burial: Restlawn Memorial Park Wausau Marathon County Wisconsin, USA
Courtesy of: Dale & Corinne Wise Jan 17, 2013